Reflector.



D. J. OBRIEN.

' REFLECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. so, 1904. RENEWED sEPT. 7, 1912.

1,1220%, Patentefl Feb 2,1915.

' E NORRIS PETERS co. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHING rON, D. C

A ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DENNIS JOSEPH OBRIEN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 STRAIGHT FILAMENT LAMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

REFLECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application filed December 30, 1904, Serial No. 239,012. Renewed September 7. 1912. Serial No. 719,161.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DENNIS JOSEPH OBRIEN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, in the State of California, have invented a new and useful Reflector, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention is a sectional reflector, designed for use chiefly in connection with an incandescent electric tube-lamp which is subject matter for a separate patent, and the construction of which will not be herein set forth, except in so much as it directly affects the principle of the invention now under consideration. Other reflectors of similar type have been invented and patented by me or made the subject-matter of additional Letters Patent, and they have proved useful and successful, being adapted, in connection with the tube-lamps, for lighting stores, offices, halls, theaters, and all the various rooms and apartments of a building, as well as for street lighting and as headlights; in

short, they have been employed with reasonable success wherever it is possible to use an incandescent electric lamp. But experience and careful study have pointed out certain advantages which may be obtained by additions and changes in the construction, especially in the manner of attaching the reflector to a fixture or chandelier, and in the connecting means provided for placing the lamp with which it is used in an electric circuit, and for firmly holding the lamp in a position parallel to each of the reflecting sections.

It is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide a reflector which shall combine all the good features and qualities of the previously invented forms with new and advantageous properties, and shall, without generating undue heat, multiply the rays of light produced by the lamp, be capable of immediate and safe attachment to or removal ,from a fixture or chandelier, allow the lamp to be quickly placed in or out of circuit without danger of shock to the person handling it, present a neat and pleasing appearance, and be durable and inexpensive.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of one form of this improved reflector with a tube-lamp, of the kind above referred to, fitted into it. Fig. 2is a cross section on the line x-w of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 3 is an end view of a modified form of the reflector, the lamp being removed. Fig. t is a partly sectioned side elevation of the modified form of the reflector shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of one of two socket-pieces used at the ends of the reflector. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the socket-piece, looking at right angles to Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are plan vlews respectively showing the bottom and top of the socket-piece. Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively a plan and an edge view of a nut placed in the socket-piece when used on the reflector shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The lamp mentioned above, in so far as its construction relates to the present inventron, comprises a glass tube or envelop 1, whose sides are straight and parallel to a straight-line filament 2, inclosed in the tube and held centrally therein by angular conductors 3, to which the ends of the filament are respectively anchored and which have their terminals sealed in and protruding through one side of the tube. A vacuum is, of course, created in the tube, and means adapting the lamp for connection in an elec tric circuit are provided in the form of metallic caps or bells 4, suitably soldered to the terminals of the anchor conductors 3 and cemented over the points on the outside of the tube Where they protrude. From its shape, this lamp may be properly referred to as a tube or tubular lamp. It is a satisfactory form of incandescent lamp, being easily connected in a circuit, adapted to a great variety of uses, and capable of giving a powerful light. But though the present invention was designed to be used principally with this form of lamp and though it is described in such a connection herein, the right is, nevertheless, reserved to its use in all possible connections to which it is adapted, as Well as to modifications in the form of its several parts.

This improved reflector is made up of a changeable number of substantially plane sections 5, which may be of transparent glass covered on the back with an amalgam, or of white-glass, porcelain, or other suitable material. Although any desired number of these sections can be used, it is preferable to employ an odd number, and to make them of even width, so that the central section will be directly under the tube-lamp. These sections, whatever their size and number, are placed edge to edge in an arc of a circle, each-being=-tangential to the arc.- They are heldin this position by means of a segmental casing or frame (5,v

of brass, tin, iron, or other sheet-metal adaptable to the purpose. The longitudinal edges 7 of this casing are bent in, over the adjacent edges :ofthe; outermost:. sections 5,. as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and upon the ends, of the casing1 are 3: solderedstripsiS v.ofg. I the same metal, which; extend: back upon-;..

the ends; of the, sectionsand hold them. firmly inrplace.

The casing,- is reinforcedain such; places by extra thicknesses :offlsheetemetal, as a10, which are soldered: uponzrthe inside of". the: casi;ng,u. one;at.,eacheend. Thezinner:v ends ofthesen metal; pieces; or. plates 10 are: slightly ofisetv and bent upon the ends ;ofthe ishortccentral.

section 9,v which .they: firmly; engage and:

keep implace.

Inaorder to secure proper; connection of:

the lamp in the electric circuit, and .between the lamp and the reflector, .noveldevices are employed, which ifrom theiriishape. and operation. mayv be termed removable; socket-- pieceszandIareherein designated by 11'; Two of these socket+piecesare.-provided,..one .near

eachiendI of theinside of .thebodyi of the reflector, at. points :which ;wi'll.sbe directly oppositethe caps or. bells 4 on the tube-"lamp with which the reflector is i to .be :used.:v The.

construction of eachrof the; socketepieces; 11;

is theisame, each consisting, .as best seen in; Figs, 5 to 8; of .a' substantiallyv cylindrical receptacle, made; preferably ofi-porcelain', or other: good insulating material,-..and.- divided into two nearly. equal parts by a'partition.

12, having a central aperture '13, .ofisufiicient size to permit aiwire to pass. through; These. SOCkQtrPlGCGS 11. may be :app-liediin various ways; of which two are illustrated'zherein,

and they discharge several functions, asxwill presently be :described;

As above stated with reference: to Figs:.-. 11

and l 2, special i means. are provided in the COHStI llG't'Il'OIILiZhBIB shown, for holding the:

reflector to' the. fittings which-connectzit with the chandelier. or otherzfixture. The: fittings referred to comprise a couple ofa'itub'es 14! and i152, held :line; together v by I a spherical I coupling l6iand having similar coupl-iings; 171

and 18 at their outer. ends, the "latter carrying plugs 19 and- 20 also formed with globu-n liar ends, and all spherical or globular mom'- bers beingin the--line-or plane-= of' the tubing; The=- centralcoupling-'16=is-made with a flange21, turned upward or away from-the reflector and having a screw-threaded extension 22 ig. 2), adapting it for attachment to a similar, though somewhat larger, superimposed. coupling 23 (Fig. l) ,w-hich is connected, preferably in the back, to an .s i

for #instanceaas .is shown .at'e2t iniFig. 3), so I that'. the: line vofi tubing; and E. couplings. will he suspendedat right angles to; the arm. .The' :end:-'couplings .17. .and 18: have like flangesa25 "and 126, but the latter= are turned :downiward or ,toward: the-:baclr of the.v re,-

flector andieach' receives one :end: of a shoulzdered nipple 27, the other-end of which passes freely. through: suitable. holes made '28 of; the ;.nipple resting; upon the casing;

Thenipple. is: externally screw-threaded on bothrendsp firsti-forz connection; to. either coupling; flange .on .the' back I ofithe reflector, and: secondly for similar engagement: with one, of the r-socket-pieces. 1 11, within the rein the corresponding end ofi thecasingifiand in the: .plat 1'01 inside :the" same ,-.=the:shou1der flectorm 'One end. of eachsocket-piece is furnished :withua nut 2.9. for thus engaging thenippler. This nut' is detailedat: Figs. 9

andzlO:andjaisialsoaseen inFigs. 1,5, 6, and 8. It;- is; provided 011:.OPPOS'ltG :sideswith obliquely projecting lugs 30, which enter corresponding grooves.- 81, in the" inner walls of the socket-piece, and thence-are forced outward,-.by a spreading tool,.into angular vrecessesaformedpas at-32, beyond: the'inner endsiofi the grooves. The. lugs arefirmly set;

in these. recesses, sothatvthev nut. becomes fixed. in; ltSi socket, and provision is thereby madc':0f .;aninternal, wellwfitting. and durw -b le,'; metallic. screwethread in the socket piecez wherewith to engage therend of the nipple that; -,passes' and is, protruding The end:of.- the socket havingthersnut .is madekto I through the: casing: of? thereflector.

abut against the reinforcing plate 10 of-the 1 casing,.as shownsatitheleft endiof Fig. 1,

of the nipple: .on:.1the:opposite side thereof, as it sis being'scre-wed-up on the nipple.

Themombined s0cket+piece and shouldered nipple therefor-e.:cooperate: in holding up, I their rrespectivezcen'd of the reflector firmly; I

to its-fittings, thatfis topsay, to thesuspended line 0:fi tubing; and? couplings, which, in the formcofithe: invention now being rCOIlSldGIQCl,

extends parallel to the central line'of' the reflectonvthroughout the length thereof, 1 but connects therewith-w only atuthe ends, by means? of? the v end couplings 17 A and 18 and the nipple and socketrespectively pertaining to each of those end-couplings, as hereinbeforeu stated. By ;following' -this' construction, the refleCtorismade entirely sepaandto -.press-;-the-: casinga upon the shoulder rate from the fittings and its application thereto is simple and convenient as well as secure.

The aforesaid fittings, it will be seen upon referring to Figs. 1 and 2, inclose the wires, as 33 and 34, that convey the electric current to the terminals of the tube-lamp, the wires proceeding from the arm of the chandelier or fixture and its coupling 23, into the coupling 16 thereunder, thence separating and running one through each of the tubes 14 and 15 and their respective end-couplings 17 and 18, down the nipples 27 in these endcouplings, directly into the socket-pieces 1-1, across the apertured partition 12 of each socket-piece, and into bushings 35, one of which is provided in the end of each socketpiece that is remote from the body of the reflector, and in which the contact ends of the wires are caught and stayed, each by a screw 36, passing through the side of the respective socket-piece and bushing and between leaf springs 37 therein, a pair of the latter being provided for, and adapted each to receive, one of the caps or bells 4 on the side of the lamp. The inner ends of each pair of springs 37 are bent outwardly and held between the bushing 35 and the partition 12 above it. Within the body of the bushing, these springs are slightly curved outwardly to let in between them the screw 36, which spreads them apart and against opposite walls of the bushing. The other ends of the same springs lie completely outside the bushing, facing each other, and are slightly broadened and hollowed to form a cup-like receptacle, to receive and hold either cap or bell 4 on the lamp that is pushed into the same. The springs, bushings, and screws are, by preference, all made of brass, or other metal that is a good conductor of electricity, the screws being employed, as suggested in the lower part of Fig. 6, for pressing bared portions of the current-carrying wires against the inner walls of the bushings and causing the current to be transmitted through the latter to the pairs of springs and the lamps terminals. See also Figs. 1 and 5. As will be noted, the screw 36, in each instance, serves to maintain the bushing in proper position within the socket-piece, to hold up the leaf springs at a suitable height therein, to keep these springs in full contact with the bushing, and to make (or break) contact with the wires of the electric circuit. This screw is most conveniently reached from the end of the reflector, and therefore is placed on the side of the socket-piece that will normally be turned toward the end, as shown in Fig. 1 (and also in Fig. 3). The leaf springs, between which the screw passes, are likewise best located when turned toward the sides of the reflector, that is, edgewise relatively to the axis of the tube-lamp placed therein in parallelism with the sev eral reflective sections.

In the modified construction represented by Figs. 3 and 4, the wire-carrying fittings consist simply of a three-sided sheet-metal conduit 38 soldered directly upon the back of the casing 6, and a similarly soldered nipple 39 having a broad base within the conduit and an externally-threaded upper portion passing through the middle thereof,

this portion of the nipple being adapted for engagement with the central coupling 23 connected to the arm 24, both before mentioned. The wires, 33 and 34, pass from the coupling 23 into the nipple 39, and diverging are led through opposite holes in the base of the nipple, and out of the conduit, one of the wires passing out of each end thereof and thence into the adjacent socketpiece 11 through a small hole 40, which is provided just above the partition 12, in the same side of the socket-piece as the hole for the wire-retaining screw 36. See Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6. The hole 40, it will be observed, is not used in the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and hence was not mentioned in connection therewith, though for the sake of convenience, it is provided in all the socket-pieces, to adapt them to either form of the invention. After passing through the hole 40, the wire is passed through the opening 13 in the partition 12, along a sloping portion 41 thereof, and down between the springs 37, into the bushing 35, where the contact end of the Wire is engaged by the screw 36, in the manner hereinbefore explained. The fittings being substantially integral with the reflector in this modified form of the invention, the socket-pieces 11 are not connected thereto by shouldered nipples and lugged nuts as in the other construction, but are merely held up to the strips 8 of the casing 6, each by a pair of angular sheet-metal braces or brackets 42, soldered to the respective strip, and by a rivet 43, passed through and across both the braces or brackets and the socketpiece, all as shown in the said Figs. 3 and 4.

Both the herein described forms of the invention have the same means for holding the tube-lamp in a proper parallel posi tion relatively to the several sections of the reflector and with its caps or bells 4 pressed between the outer ends of the leaf-springs 37 of the socket-pieces 11. The holding means, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, consists of two spring-clamps 44, each made of a single wire bent in the middle so as to form a narrow neck portion and two arms diverging therefrom but curving toward each other and long enough to receive between them a little more than half the circumference of the tube-lamp. One of these clamps is employed in connection with each socketpiece, and becomes a functionally integral,

though :deta'chableyzpai' t'athereof "by having, its neck portion PElSSQd UPJlZh-EOUglI" a rs-lot:-

4:? in; :a lateral =proj ection 46a of the sockets: piececand ret'ainedthereabo'veby a mug, or

to Qttll-O'W it at0-be opened :cforwengagement thus'madeiat once to keep the clamp and the lAmPY bOlJh, firmly: in place, and the meansutilized therefor, it is: thought, could hardly:

be simplerr-on cheaper or of easier applica-= tionpgnox solderingior' riveting being 'neeess sary. The" projection 46 is located on the" side: of'--.,th"e' socket-piece opposite to 5 that in which the Wire-retaining screw .36ns driven,

so that the-{clampc'arried thereby: is fully insulated; and Whenboth socket-pieces are in theirrespective positions ontlieinside of theireflector the: t ivo projections' thereto a appertainingqlie inward or faeingT'each otheryand theirclamps embrace the lamp at vsuitable-t distances? from its: extremities.- The direction of the: slots: .45 is such that, thesoclietepieces having -1 been centered, the

slots and the arms-of thexolampsw therein- 'Will exten-d transversely of'the bodyof the reflector, and the lamp, placed in these arms with fitsflfipst in the cup-like receiverofthe leaf'springs' 37, 'Will' be and remain truly parallel to the reflectingsections and :nor-' mally in "circuit:

Tochold the lamp more securely between therembriacinguarms' of the clamps' 44 and precludewany possibility of itsgetting out of adjustment: and failing in wltS electrical connections; .one end? of the Wire: forming each clamp-cits turned outward and'back to make ,a-loop :l9,ZWhile the other end thereof is similarly bent to provide a hook 50, and a lightspiralspring 51 is stretched across the lamp,=with its ends respectively secured to thesaid locp and hook. See Figs; 1,, 2, and 3. .;Each end ofthe la'mp is thusprovideda-with an encircling spring and all dangerofnthe lamp being jarredout of its properposition is eliminated.

What-II- claim, and desirezto secure byi Letters-Patent of the United States, is-

l.-'A=1refiector for substantially tubular electricilamps, comprising a' segmental ca s-.

inguvith a series of substantially parallel rectangular reflective surfaces arranged lon gitu'dinally edge to edge in an" arc of' a fircle therein, means for holding 'the lamp in parallelism Wlth-the several reflective surfaces-ara'ecouplegof tubes'in' the rear of the casing,: spherical couplings j oiningz the ends of the casing to said tubes and holding the tubes end to end? andiparallel to the axial lines of thereflector and lamp," a

similar couplingintermediate the tubing to han'gf ,tlie sa-me -':t"ro1n-the arm of a chandelier 0r fixtareyand plugson' the end-couplings havi'ng globular outer ends inlinewvith the tubing and couplings; 1

2; Ai refi'ector for-'a' substantially tubular electric lamp, comprising an odd number of substantially parallel sections" of uniform Width. and length, except 7 the central sectionavvhich is shortened atlboth ends, a casing therefor, means for binding the sections togethenandrreinforcing1the casing; opposite .the ends; ofwthe short se'ctlon, suspend ng means ins-the; back of the casing, socketpieces -locatediat the ends-offsaid shortened section, and :means'i for holding said socketpieces to thei. casing an-d the. latter' to the suspending meansby screw-thread connection:

A segmental reflector for a substantially-"tubular electric lamp,=' comprising a' number of sectionssubstantially parallel i to theilamp', th'e central section being" shortened at bothends,-'-a -casing therefor having its longitudinal edges turned inwardlyover the outermostsectionsfianda lso having end strips eiitending'lacross all sections but the central on'e,=-reinforcingfplates'on the lnside: "of thecasing'with ofisets bent upon the ends= I 1 of saidmentrar section;-insulati-ngsocket pieces adaptedflfor connection with the lamps terminals and abuttlng =aga1nst said reinforcing plates, nuts fixed in saidlsocketpiec'es,'- a line of tubing "provided with suit able suspending means, a nd shouldered n1pplesassed through the casing and its reinforcing-plates and bearing on the back of the casing, said nipples engaging the ends of thetubing and the nuts in the socket -pieces and thus" holdingthe back of the reflector' to thetubing and the socketpieces to the 1 inside-'- of the reflector;

42' A reflector for substantially tubular electric lamps, comprising any desirable number of substantiallyparallel sections, acasin'fg forthe same, insulating socket-p1eces Within the enclscf saidcasing, each socketpiece= being provided with an :internal' screw-thread; tub1ng-,n1pples secured 1n said tubingand connecting it With the reflector by -bei-ng'-1: assed through the back ofthe casing and'thence engaging the socket-pieces by their respective screw-threads, feed'vvires' passing 'through the tubin the nipples, and the soeket p'ieces-to the'lamps terminals, and a wire-retainingscrew in one side of each socket-pieceu I 5. reflectorfor substantially tubular electric 'lanips, comprising longitudinally disposed reflective surfaces substantially parallel to one another and to the axis of the lamp, insulating socket-pieces secured on a central line therein and provided each with a slot running transversely with relation to said surfaces, and oppositely located clamps rigidly held in the slots of said socket-pieces and having arms spread outward also transversely of said reflector, the said clamps being thereby adapted to embrace the lamp crosswise at suitable intervals apart and maintain it in correct position centrally and longitudinally of the reflector and in parallelism with its several reflective surfaces.

6. In combination with a reflector and a lamp having outwardly projecting conductors connected to the filament ends and located one at each end and on the side of the lamp, a socket at each end of the reflector, means projecting outwardly from each socket to engage the lamp conductors, and separate means projecting outwardly from each socket to engage and support the lamp.

7. In combination with a reflector and a lamp having outwardly projecting conductors connected to the filament ends and located one at each end and on the side of the lamp, a socket at each end of the reflector, means projecting outwardly from each socket to engage the lamp conductors, a pair of spring clamps carried by each socket to engage on opposite sides of the lamp, and a coil spring connected at its ends to each pair of said clamps to extend transversely across and to engage the outer arc of the lamp that is located between said clamps.

8. In combination with a reflector and a lamp carried thereby having lateral sockets connected with the filament at opposite ends, a combined support and Wire carrier for the reflector consisting of a central transverse hollow element through which both of the circuit wires extend, and a conduit for each wire leading from said element, the outer ends thereof terminating in said sockets near the reflector ends.

9. In combination with a reflector and a lamp carried thereby having lateral conductors, one at each end thereof, a combined wire carrier and support for the reflector consisting of a longitudinal hollow element on the back of the reflector, hollow means to connect the ends of said element to the reflector, and a transverse hollow coupling se cured to said element, the wires leading through the coupling, the hollow element, and the hollow means to engage with said conductors.

10. In combination with a reflector, and a lamp carried thereby having lateral socket connected with its filament at opposite ends, a combined support and wire carrier for the reflector consisting of a hollow conduit of Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents substantially the reflectors length having a central inlet for both circuit wires and an outlet at each end for the respective wires, leading the latter into said sockets at the opposite ends of the reflector.

11. In combination with a reflector and a lamp having a lateral conductor at each end, a socket at each end of the reflector for each conductor, means on the back of the reflector connected at its ends to said sockets to contain the respective wires for said lamp conductors, and means connected to said first named means for containing both of said wires and for supporting the reflector from a support.

12. The combination with a reflector and an incandescent electric lamp carried thereby having lateral contacts connected with its filament at opposite ends, of sockets on corresponding ends of the reflector body in operative connection with said contacts, and a support for the reflector with circuit wires respectively led to said sockets.

13. The combination with a reflector and an incandescent electric lamp having lateral contacts connected with its filament at the ends, of sockets positioned on the reflector body opposite said contacts so as to receive the latter, and separate means located at the ends of the reflector operatively holding said sockets and contacts together.

1.4. An open-ended reflector composed of sections arranged in an arc of a circle, combined with a tubular incandescent electric lamp placed parallel to said sections and having uncovered ends corresponding with the open. ends of the reflector, lateral conductors on the lamp leading to the opposite ends of its filament, sockets between the reflector and lamp receiving said conductors, and lampretaining means holding the lamp beyond said sockets.

15. The combination with a reflector and an incandescent electric lamp having laterally projecting conductors connected to the ends of its filament, of sockets opposite said conductors on the reflector body, hangers for the lamp detachably held to said sockets, and a means for supporting the reflector.

16. The combination with a suitably-supported reflector and an incandescent electric lamp therein having laterally projecting conductors connected to the ends of its filament, of sockets opposite said conductors on the reflector body, and expansible hangers on said sockets adapted to hold the lamp in position.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DENNIS JOSEPH OBRIEN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. DONEBACH, A. H. STE. MARIE.

each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

